, 1887-10-21
The CHINESE FAN PALM.
Interesting Facts Concerning Its Guilt
vstIon-The Palm Plantations.

nv AhAhE ~ a.
vRtion-The Palm Plantations.
In the report of the superintendent of
the Botanical and Afforestation depart
mont of Hong Kong for 1886, the follow
ing interesting facts are given on the Gull
t~ivation of the Chinese fan palm Givis-
tona sinensis, Mart for the manufacture
of fans.
The Rev. 3. C. Henry, who has trav-
eled much in the Kivangtung province,
says in his book Cling Nam" that the
palm district extends about twenty miles
from east to west and ten miles from
north to south. 1t appears hat fan palm
cultivation is confined to the San vi dis
trict. In reference to this Mr.. Henry
says: THAT the limitation of this indus
try Is a matter of necessity and not of
choice is proved by attempts made at
various times to cultivate the palm in
other places, attempts that have always
resulted in failure"
The palm plantations are situated on
fat alluvial lands, about six to ten feet
above the water of the rivers and creeks
which run through the delta, and they
are intersected with numerous open
canals or bitches four feet wide or more,
for carrying off the surplus water in the
rainy season, and for retaining it, by
means of wooden sluices fixed on the
banks which surround the plantations or
fields for purposes of irrigation.
Tho plantations contained palms of all
ages. Some had trees upward of 100
years Old, according to the assertions of
natives, blu these plantations always con-
tanned trees of mixed ages, young plants
having been constantly added to take the
place of older ones as they died out or
were blown down by winds. The old
trees were always of a very stunted APP
pearance-a condition which would natur-
ally ensue from the continued looping of
their leaves. A parasitical fungus or lichen
covered these old trunks, and gave them
the appearance of having been white
washed. The tallest trees seen were only
about twelve feet high, but they were
said to be upward of 100 years old. The
leaves on these old trees are larger and
stouter than those on young plants. and
the stems of the leaves are only about a
foot long. The palm begins to yield leaves
suitable for fans when it is about O years
odd. The first cutting of leaves takes
place early in the year, and the leaves,
which are somewhat damaged by the
wintry winds, and consequently of in
ferior quality, are used for thatch in the
construction Of the ''matsheds'' which
are SO extensively used for temporary
purposes in China.
Leaves for fan making are obtained in
April, one, two or three leaves being taken
from each plant, and the process is con-
tinued each month until November, when,
| was informed, cutting is discontinued
for a few months. The leaves are taken
from b plantations to a clear space
covered with short grass turf. Here
a leaf has a thin piece Of bamboo
placed across the blade where it is
joined on the stem. Each end of the
bamboo is secured in its place by the
loose end of a segment of the leaf being
deXterously bound round it. The bamboo
prevents the leaf curling up while it is
drying. The leaves are then laid out
singly on the turf to dry in the sun, and
collected and stacked at night. The pro-
cess is continued daily until the leaves are
quite dry, when they are either sent off
direct to the town to be made into fans or
they are stacked for a time until the
manufacturers are ready to receive
them.
The manufacture of the fans is carried
on chiefly in the town of San vi, but
there are also some establishments in the
country where this is done. The dried
leaves are subjected to a process IF
blanching by means of sulphur. They
are then Strengthened and rendered
shapely by being held and manipulated
over a charcoal fire. The operator, as he
finishes the fans, places them one by one
On each other, making a heap on the
floor; the heap is finally pressed down by
the weight Of the operator, who stands on
a board placed on top of the heap while
he is working at succeeding fans. When
a heap of twenty Or thirty fans have been
thus treated they are removed and
another series is begun.
The mex process is sewing on the bind
ings at the edge of the fans, This is done
by women and children, chiefly at their
own homes, and the fans returned, when
finished, to the manufacturer. The more
expensive fitting of horn and bamboo
handles is done at Canton. The portion
of the stalk which is not required as a
handle for the fan is not wasted; it is
composed of fibrous material that is util-
lied in making short lengths of rope used
as slings to suspend baskets from carrying
poles. Around the stem, as bases of the
leaf stalks, there is a quantity of fbrous
substance, somewhat resembling coir
fiber. This is carefully collected, and also
used for making ropes.-Scientific Ameri-
can.
A Writer'a Lament.